Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer has won a first round match in the Southern Hemisphere’s most demanding competition for the first time in four attempts.

Meyer, speaking to the Rapport newspaper after the Bulls 30-18 win against the Cheetahs, said it was a relief to finally start the Vodacom Super 14 (formerly the Super 12) with a win.

“This is the first time in four years that my team has won their first round match. It is a huge relief,” said Meyer, who added that while the Bulls would have to improve to beat the Brumbies in Pretoria on Friday evening, his team was well positioned in comparison to last season when they made the semi-finals.

“A year ago we lost our first three matches and had one bonus point after three rounds. Now we have four after one away match.”

Meyer also singled out the efforts of Fourie du Preez at scrumhalf and Akona Ndungane, with the latter praised for his ability to do the right thing at the right time and make minimal mistakes in a match.

Meyer described the performance of his young front row as encouraging and he felt the Cheetahs may have underestimated the Bulls in this area.